We’ve reached that point in the year when the motivation for our new years resolutions is starting to fade, but the desire to grow in our careers is most certainly not. I spend a lot of time thinking about how people (and women in particular) can make small moves each day that add up to major career progress.
Isn’t that the secret to long-lasting growth and development? Consistency, learning when to take a break instead of quitting, and finding joy in the career development process.
Scroll on for three things you can try this month that will not only jazz up your workday when motivation is dwindling – these will also help you reach new career milestones.
Go for a walk.
Before we can make progress in our careers, we need to make sure we’re operating from a place of clarity. One way to get clear and refocused is by taking mini walk breaks throughout the day. Walks are a great way to get your blood circulating and creative juices before a brainstorm, play out a few scenarios, or even vent about something bugging you so you can let it go and move on. Bonus points that a walk is also good for your health. I aim for 10,000 steps a day and a few walks definitely help with that goal.
Give feedback (or ask for feedback) from a coworker.
One of the easiest ways to become better at your job or understand where to spend your time more is by asking for intentional feedback. This means you’re setting up a meeting with anyone you’ve worked with (boss, coworkers, clients, etc.) and asking for feedback on specific things/ projects. The keyword here is specific. Make it easy for them to give you information by providing context and specific questions that you send to them ahead of time.
If you have your eyes set on leadership opportunities, start practicing coaching and giving feedback to your peers. This is a big area for personal and professional growth.
Network at work.
One of my favorite things to do is network within your own company. If you work for a large organization this is even easier because you can set up one lunch a week (or even once a month) with a new person from a different department. Learn about their career path, department, etc. and I bet you’ll collaborate much better with other coworkers when you get to know other teams. It might even open your eyes to new jobs!
These are just some quick ideas that you can implement today to grow your career and have fun in the process. I’d love to hear from you, too! What are some things you’ve tried at work that made the workday more exciting? Tell me in the comments below!
